Banjo.



PATENTED JAN. 31, 1905.

T. WILLIAMS.

BANJO.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.30.1903.

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PATENTBD JAN. 31, 1905.

T. WILLIAMS.

BANJO.

APPLIOATION FILED 0012.30.1903.

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IN VEN 70/? 170mm; 77?!!!(072;

A 77019 E Y8 WI TNE SSE S UNITED STATEs' Patented January 31, 1905.

PATENT FFICE.

'THOMAS WILLIAMS, OF ATHENIA, NE\V JERSEY.

BANJO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 781,480, dated January 31, 1905.

Application filed October 30,1903. Serial No. 179,139.

To LZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS iVILLIAMs, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Athenia, in the county of Passaic and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and use-' ful Improvement in Banjos, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description. My invention relates to improvements in musical instruments of that class known as banjos; and one ob ect that I have in view is the provision of simple and strong devices for stretching and clamping the skin or head of the instrument, said devices imparting an ornamental appearance to said instrument.

A further object that I have in view is the provision of a bottom for the drum-hoop and adapted to serve as a sounding-board, said bottom being held securely in place and in adjustable relation to the drum-hoop, so as to afford a space for the egress of the soundwaves at the bottom of the hoop.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the course of the subjoined description, and the novelty will be defined by the annexed claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specilication, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is perspective view of a banjo embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation taken through the drum across the tenon of the neck of the instrument. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of one of the clamps removed from the instrument. Flg. 1 1s a like view of one of the brackets which is adapted to be mortised into the wooden hoop of the drum, forming a part of the instrument. Fig. 5 is a detail crosssection illustrating another embodiment of the clamp adapted to engage with the skinhoop. Fig. 6 isasectional elevation showing one form of tailpiece and an adjusting device therefor. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the metallic tailpiece shown by Fig. 6, and Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of a wooden tailpiece which may be used in lieu of the metallic tailpieces shown by Figs. 6 and 7.

As is usual in the art, the banjo is provided with a drum formed by a hoop A and a head B. This head is made of skin or other suitable material, the edge of which is attached to a wire a, which is confined below a metallic band 6, the latter engaging with a folded edge of the skin or head B in a way to circumferentially clamp the skin against the outer surface of the hoop A, as shown by Fig. 2. The drumhead or skin is stretched to a taut condition and held firmly in its stretched state by clamping devices embodying a part of the-present invention, said clamping devices furnishing an embellishmentfortheinstrument. Each clamping device consists of a metallic body (1, which is cast in a single piece and finished in a suitable wayas, for example, by nickel-plating the clamp. Said clamp is of hollow or chambered elongated construction, the same being concavo-convex in cross-section and furnished with straight edges 0 and bearing edges 0 on theinner face thereof, the hollow formof the clamp affording a longitudinal channel 0 (See Fig. The clamp is shown by the drawings as tapering from its lower to its upper end, and at the upper end the clamp is furnished with a rounded head (Z, which is extended or prolonged beyond the bearing edges 1/, thereby forming the beveled shoulder (1, which is adapted for engagement with the upper edge of the skin or head band The clamp U is furthermore provided with a transverse bridge a, which is cast in a single piece with the clamp and is disposed across the channel 0 thereof at a suitable distance above the lower open end of said clamp. This bridge is provided with a female-th-remled socket f, which is adapted to receive an adjusting-screw l), the latter being supported by a metallic bracket E in cooperative relation to the clamp (l, as shown at right of Fig. 2. The bracket E is constructed in a way which permits it to be mortised into the wooden hoop A of the instruments drum, and, as shown by Figs. 2 and 4 of the d rawings, this bracket consists of an elongated flat plate r and a laterally-extending arm g, said arm being disposed at right angles to the plate and being furnished with a vertical perforation or eye The plate g of the bracket E is adapted to be applied against the inner surface of the wooden hoop A, while the arm 9 of the bracket is arranged to pass through a suitable opening g which is formed in the hoop, thus permitting the perforated end 4 of the bracket to extend beyond or outside of the hoop in a position to receive the lower headed portion of the adjustingscrew D. Each clamp O is applied against the outside of the drum in a position for the bridge 0 to bear against the hoop A and the edges 0 to bear against the skin-band 7), as shown by Fig 2, whereby the upper shouldered end ('Z of the clamp is adapted for engagement with the skin-band 7), while the bridge 0 of said clamp is disposed in a position for the reception of the adjusting-screw D.

By reference to Figs. 1 and 2 it will be seen that I have provided a number of clamps C and a corresponding number of the brackets E, one of the clamps and one of the brackets being assembled into cooperative relation to form a cooperating pair of tightening devices, the clamps O being disposed on the outside of the drum, while the brackets E are fastened securely to the inside of the drum. The clamp and bracket of each tightening device are connected operatively by the adjustingscrew D, and this screw is adapted to be manipulated in a way to draw the clamp O in a downward direction, thereby depressing the band 5 and stretching the skin or head B to the desired tension. The bracket E is mortised in and secured firmly to the drum-hoop A, so as to be held from displacement thereon and to be concealed by said drum.

As is usual in the art the instrument is equipped with a neck F, which forms a iin ger-board, said neck being provided with a tenon f, which is carried through one side of the hoop A, extended across said hoop, and secured to the opposite side thereof in a suitable way. The neck is furnished with a series of tuning-pins 71., by which the strings are attached to the instrument, said strings passing across the usual bridge A and fastened to the common tailpiece 7f.

Another feature of my invention consists in the provision of a bottom I, the same being preferably made of wood and disposed at the open lower side of the drum in a way to leave a space ifor the free exit of the sound-waves. The bottom I constitutes a sounding-board, and said bottom is fastened to the wooden hoop A by means which enable the bottom or sounding-board to be adjusted with relation to the lower edge of the hoop, thus making provision for an increase or decrease in the width of the vent opening or space Adjusting-screws J are embedded in the lower edge of the hoop A to expose the heads thereof for engagement with the bottom I. and through this bottom passes a series of attaching-screws J, which are also embedded in the lower edge of the wooden hoop A. It is evident that the screws J may be removed and that the bottom I may be dismounted to allow access to the ad justing-screws J. These screws may be adjusted to increase the projection of the heads thereof below the drum-hoop A, after which the bottom should be again applied and the screws J reengaged with the hoop, whereby the space 21 between the bottom and the hoop may be increased. The bottom I is of larger diameter than the drumhoop A, and the edge portion of the bottom is extended beyond said hoop, thus increasing the area of the sounding-board formed by the bottom and securing a larger volume of sound and improving the tone of the instrument. The bottom I is also provided with an embellishment-band K, the latter being preferably made of metal and arranged to inclose the lower portions of the clamps C, thus imparting a neat and attractive appearance to the outside of the drum. The embellishmentband K is shown by Fig. 2 as being secured to a reinforcement-ring K, which is secured to the bottom I. at the projecting edge thereof, said ring 7.1 lying directly below the lower ends of the clamps C. It will be understood that the bottom I is to be dismounted from the instrument when it is desired to obtain access to the screws D for the purpose of adjusting the clamps C, after which the bottom may be replaced easily and quickly. In addition to furnishing the bottom with the reinforcement-ring Z: I also employ a stay-bar L, which is fastened to the upper face of the bottom and extends across the middle portion thereof.

The particular form of the clamp and the method of its engagement with the skin-hoop are not material, because I am aware that each clamp of the series may be made of fanciful shape in order to afford embellishment to the instrument. In Fig. 5 of the drawings I have shown a metallic clamp C in the form of a human hand and arm, said clamp having the fingers of the hand fashioned to afford a hook C, which is adapted for engagementwith the skin-hoop 7). Instead of hooking the clamp C over the top edge of the skin-hoop, as in the construction of Figs. 2 and 3, the hoop 7) may be provided with a slot or opening I)" to receive the hook C of the clamp C, as shown byFig. 5. This clamp U is provided with an internal lug for the reception of the screw, as indicated by dotted lines, said screw being mounted in a lug of the clamp member E, as in the construction of Figs. 2 and 3.

In Figs. 6 to 8, inclusive, I have shown a form of construction of the tailpiece by which the strings of the instrument may be held quite close to the skin or drum B. The tailpiece L (shown by Figs. 6 and 7) is made of one piece of metal, with a reduced prong or extension m at one end and with an upwardly and downwardly curved flange n at its other end. The tailpiece is also provided with a row of apertures 12 adjacent to the flange a, and in this flange is a row of slots 11 The strings L of the instrument are first knotted, then slipped through the slots m and then threaded in the apertures n, as shown by Fig. 6, thus concealing the knots inside the flange n and afl'ording a convenient means for the secure attachment of the strings to the tailpiece. The tailpiece is provided with a recessed shoulder M, which is engaged by a bail O, the latter having a hook 0 adapted to fit into the eye 0 of a tension-bolt 0, said bail resting on the tailpiece at a point directly over or inside of the skin-loop. The bolt O passes loosely through a bracket P, which is fastened to the outside of the hoop A by a bolt, screw, or other fastening, and on the threaded end of this tension-bolt O is screwed a nut 0 which is adapted to bear against the bracket P and to afford a convenient means for the adjustment of said bolt 0 and the bail 0, whereby the tailpiece is connected detachably and adjustably to the body or drum of the instrument.

The tailpiece Q (shown by Fig. 8) is made of one piece of wood, with an upstanding flange q at itswide end and a prong or extension-q at is narrow end, said flange q having a series of apertures 1 through which the strings are threaded, so that they may be knotted in rear of the flange, and thereby attached securely to the tailpiece. The wooden tailpiece is engaged by the bail O, which is adapted to be connected with the tension-bolt O in the way shown by Fig. 6.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. An instrument of the class described, having a hoop, a skin-holding band fitted thereto, a clamp provided with a screwthreaded opening and with a shoulder which engages with said band, and a screw supported by the hoop and having threaded cngagement with said clamp.

2. An instrument of the class described, having a hoop, a skin-holding band thereon, a clamp provided with bearing-faces and with a shoulder, said bearing-faces engaging with the hoop and the band, and said shoulder having engagement with the upper edge of the band, and an adjusting-screw mounted on the hoop and having threaded engagement with said clamp.

3. An instrument of'the class described, havinga hoop, a skin-holding band, a channeled clamp engaging with said band, a bracket mortised in the hoop and provided with an arm which is housed within the channeled clamp, a screw mounted in said bracketarm and having threaded engagement with said clamp, said screw being also housed in the channeled clamp, and a tailpiece.

4. An instrument of the class described, having a hoop, a skin-holding band, a clamp provided with a shoulder engaging with the band and with a threaded bridge, a bracket disposed on the inside of the hoop and having an arm which is extended through said hoop, a screw fitted in said arm and having threaded engagement with the bridge of'said clamp, a tailpiece, and a sounding-board.

5. A musical instrument having a hoop, a skin-holding band, a channeled clamp detachably engaging with said band, a bracket secured along the inside of the hoop and having an arm housed in said clamp, and means for adjustably connecting said clamp to said arm.

6. An instrument of the class described, having ahoop which tapers in cross-section, a bracket fastened to the inside of the hoop, a skin-holding band, a clamp connected detachably to said band, and an ad justing-screw mounted in the bracket and connected adjustably to said clamp.

7. In a banjo, the combination of a hoop, a skin-holding band thereon, a series of clamps each provided with a screw-threaded opening and with a shoulder engaging said band, a series of brackets secured to the inside of the hoop and extending to the outside thereof, a screw supported by each bracket and having threaded engagement with one of the clamps, and a sounding-board adjustably secured to the lower edges of the hoop and having a reinforcing-ring and an embellishment-band, said ring surrounding and covering the lower ends of said clamps.

8. In a banjo, the combination of a perforated hoop, a series of brackets secured on the inside thereof and projecting through the perforations and above the lower edge of the hoop, a series of clamps, means for adjustably securing the clamps to the brackets above the plane at which the latter project through the hoop, a bottom forming a sounding-board and spaced relatively to the lower edge of said hoop to leavean intermediate opening or vent for the egress of sound-waves, adjusting devices carried by the hoop and engaging with the bottom to hold the bottom away from the hoop, and means for attaching the 7 bottom to the lower edge of the hoop.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS i/VILLIAMS.

WVitnesses:

J No. M. Rrr'run, H. 1*. BERNHORD. 

